Apparatus for fumigation



July 27 1926. 1,593,663

F. J. METZGER ET AL APPARATUS FOR FUMIGATION 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. ll. 1926 NVENTOR 75 er rnd f Meyere ATTORNEIAn July 27 1926. 1,593,663 F. J. METZGER ET AL v APPARATUS FOR FUMIGATION Filed Feb. 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i: |l I' i# .I 1| v e: Il i. fir 7 I; Ill r i l ,I I l m//f/IYER Bfdly J @vp/*fr @wbawmm ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, i926.

UNITED STATES 1,593,663 PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD J. IETZGER, 0F YORK, N. Yi., AND GEORGE J'. AWEGZERER, OI' BELL, CALI- FORNIA, ASSIGNORSTO CALIFORNIA CYANIDE COMPAN Y, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR FUMIGATION.

Application nieu February i1, i926. serial No. 87,548.

This invention relates to an apparatus for producing dust clouds, and particularly for distributing finely divided solid materials in the form of clouds in which the solids are Asuspended in a gaseous medium such as air.

The -apparatus can be employed invarious`- ways. -It is adaptable to the application of solid materials which will decompose in the presence of a gaseous medium such as air and other gases to produce thereby lethal gases Acapable of` destroying animal life.

' The use of h drocyanic' acid for fumigation has been gnown for a long time and various methods of applying it have been developed. Originally the hydrocyanic acid was releasedwithin the space to be fumigated by the actionof an acid such as sulphuric acid upon a cyanide compound such 'as sodium cyanide. This method has certain disadvantagessuch as the necessity of transporting and handling sulphuric acid and the dilflculty of disposing of theresulting sludge. More recently fumigation has been conducted with liquid hydrocyanc acid prepared at a central plant and applied -either by vaporizing the liquid and introducing the vapor into an enclosure or by spraying the liquid directly into the enclosure. This method also has certain disadvantages, particularly the danger which is inherent in the handling of the volatile and poisonous liquid. The difficulties mentioned can be avoided by the use of a s olid cyanide product which decomposes in the presence of a humid atmosphere to release hydrocyanic acid. Such a material is available in the form of calcium cyanide or materials containing this compound. Calciun cyanide is a compound which can -be stored safely in 'l closed" containers since it does not decompose under such conditions. It is, however, relatively unstable and decomposes rapidly, particularly when it is distributed in the form of dust in the atmosphere of the place to be fumigated. The decomposition. releases hydrocyanic acid in copious quantity and the freshly released acidis extremely effective in destroying the animal life.

' Calcium cyanide and materials containing calcium cyanide can-be utilized in the form of dust to fumigate vegetationsuch, for eX- ample, as the citrus trees of California for the purpose of destroying-scale and other insectv pests. lt can b used. for

gating ships and buildings to destroy insects i.

and other animal life. It can be applied, in fact, wherever vermin of any kind exists whether or not the s ace is enclosed and sealed. To accomplish t e purpose most eff'ectively, finely divided material should be distributed uniformly throughout the space to be treated and-'this is accomplished most readily by applying the dust in the form of a cloud in which the particles are suspended in aV aseous medium such as air or carbon ciioxi e.

It is the object ofthe present invention to provide la simple and elective apparatusy which is capable of delivering predeter. mined quantities of the dust in the formof a dust cloud, thus enabling the operator to apply the required quantity of the material to accomplish the desired object.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood b reference to the following specification an accompanying drawing; in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section .throigh an apparatus embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation partially in secliion 1illustrating the structure shown in To carry out the purpose of the invention we provide a receptacle which is adapted to contain a quantity of the finely divided solid material such as calcium cyanide or products containing this v compound. We associate with this receptacle means for measuring the predetermined quantities of the solid material, preferably by weight, means for delivering the solid material to the measuring dethe quantity of material can be accurately vice, and means for ejecting the' powdered and readily determined. A bellows or other device for creating a blast of air is connected f to the receiver and Ja pipe arranged to deliver theL dust cloud from the receiver to asliitablenozzle. In place of the bellows, any; 'source of gas under pressure can be emff.

ics

ployed. .A convenient source is areceptacle':

in which air or carbon dioxide is held under pressure with a regulating valve to permit, the escape of the gas under control of the operator. h

An apparatus embodying the invention is illustrated in the drawing in which 5 1ndicates a base to which a frame 6 of light metal construction is secured. The frame supports a receptacle 7 having a carrying handle 8 secured thereto by brackets 9 and1 10 so that the apparatus is portable. Oi course, the structure could be enlarged and if sufficiently heavy it would be supported upon a wheeled truck so as to facilitate transportation. In practical operations, however, it is desirable to employ an apparatus which can be carried from place to place by the operator. A cover 11 is adapted to be secured in any desired way in the opening '12 .at the top of the receptacle. The cover is removable to permit the introduction of the solid material.

A screw conveyer 13 is disposed in the bottom of the receptacle 7 on a shaft 111- which is mounted in suitable bearings and extends through the end of the receptacle and has an operating handle 15 to permit rotation of the shaft and conveyer. When the shaft is-rotated the solid material is delivered through one end of a conveyer tube 16 into a housing 17 which communicates therewith. A valve 18 is arranged at the end of the tube 16 and is carried on a sleeve 19 which surrounds the end-of the shaft 14. The sleeve 19 is movable end-V wise upon the shaft against a spring 19 and is controlled by a manually operable ring 20 near the handle 15. The operator is thus enabled to shift the valve 18 to per mit delivery of material before the handle 15 is operated and thereafter to close the outlet from the receptacle 7 before air is introduced for the purpose of forming the dust cloud.

A measuringr cup 21 is supported by a bail 22 and connecting chain 23 on a spring balance 24 which is mounted ona bracket 25 on the end of the receptacle 7. The spring balance has an indicator 26 and the usual graduations 27 upon the face of a dial 271 cooperating with the indicator 26 to show the amount of solid material which has been delivered to the measuring cup 21. The dial is divided preferably into units based upon the amount of hydroeyanic acid which will be released from a given quantity of the solid material. The apparatus can be used consequently with the aid of a chart to deliver the specied number of units for the fumigat-ion of a space. of any dimensions.

The measuring cup 21 is connected to the housing 17 by a collapsible diaphragm 28 which is preferably made of thin rubber with an outer layer 29 of cloth or other material to' preventexpansion of the rubber under pressure of the air blast. A bellows 30 of the type commonly used for supplying air blast to gas burners and the like is connected by a flexible pipe 31, also consisting preferably of soft rubber with an outer layer of cloth or other material to prevent expansion of the rubber, to the measuring cup 21. lows need not be described since these are well known in the art. The bellows is adapted to deliver a blast of air underAa,

substantial pressure tov the measuring cup and consequently to force the finely divided solid material from the cup into the housing 17. A pipe 82 is connected to the upper part of the housing and delivers the dust cloud formed by the air blast to a nozzle which is preferably turned upwardly and is adapted to be inserted, forl example, beneath the tent which encloses the space to be fumigated.

In using the apparatus the operator, after inspecting it to see that the various parts are in proper condition, fills the receptacle 7'with the powdered material. The valve 18 is opened then by manipulating the ring1 20 and the handle 15 is turned until the desired amount of the powder as indicated on the scale 27 has been delivered to the measuring cup 21. The valve 18 is then closed and the bellows 30 is actuated -to introduce a blast of air into the measuring cup. The finely divided solid material is picked up by the blast and forced upwardly into the housing 17 and out through the pipe 32 to the nozzle 33. The finely divided material is ejected from the nozzle in the form of a cloud in which the solid material is suspended in the gaseous medium and with suilicient force to carry 'the cloud upwardly or in any desired direction for a considerable distance. The cloud of dust may be thus distributed throughout the space which is to be fu1nigated. Upon contact of the dust with the atmosphere the moisture usually present therein causes the calcium cyanide, if the latter is present in the material used, to decompose, thus releasing hydrocyanic acid, and the latter is effective immediately for the destruction of animal life within the enclosure.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the apparatus involves a minimum number of relatively simple and inexpensive parts and therefore provides a reliable means for producin a dust cloud for the intended purpose. T e apparatus is particularly effective because it permits the application of accurately measured quantities of thel fumigating agent. This is essential not only because it ensures the econo'm` ical application of the relatively expensive fumigatng agent but also because 1n certm The details of the bel- I types of fumigation,

. overdose of the fumigant or, on the other hand, the fumigantl is ineffective if the proper dosage is not applied. In the present a paratus the quantity of material in each c arge can e read with accuracy on the dial of the spring balance and consequently the application of the right amount of the umigant is easily accomplished-` Various changes can be made in the details of the structure as described without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof,

1.'A dusting apparatus comprising a re-- ceptacle for finely divided .material and means for withdrawing a portion of the material, means vfor weighing the portion withdrawn and means for discharging that portion of the material as a dust cloud.

2. A- dusting apparatus comprising a receptacle for finely divided material, a measuring cup, means :tor delivering the material from the receptacle to the cup, means to determine the quantity of material so delivered and means for discharging the material as a dust cloud. v

3. A dusting apparatus comprising'a receptacle for nely divided material, a measurmg cup, means for delivering the material from the receptacle to the cup, means Jfor weighing the material in the cup and means for discharging the material as a dust cloud.

4. A dusting apparatus comprising a receptacle for finely divided material, means to -receive a portion of the material from the receptacle, means for weighing the portion received' and means for directing a blast of gas through that portion and for discharging it as a dust cloud.

5. A dustiner apparatus comprising means to receive a c arge of finely divided material, means for weighing the charge, and means for directing a blast of gas through the charge and for discharging 1t asa dust cloud.

6. Avdusting apparatus comprising means for weighing a charge of nely\ divided material and means for directing a blast of gas through the charge and for discharging it as a dust cloud.

7. A dustin apparatus comprising nozzle means for irecting a finely divided material suspended in air asa dust cloud, means as in the' citrus to weigh the charge of material and means to deliver a blast of air through the material and to convey it to the nozzle.

8. A dusting apparatus comprising a receptable for inely divided material, weighing means, a measuring cup movably supported on the receptacle and connected to the weighing means, an air-tight connection between the weighing cup means for moving material from the receptacle to the weighing cup and means for in- .troducing a blast of air to the weighing cup and for conveying the material as a dust cloud therefrom.

9. A dusting apparatus comprising a receptacle for finelyl ing means, a measurin T cup movablyl supported on the receptac e and connected to the weighing means, an air-tight connection between the weighing cup and receptacle, means for moving material from the receptacle to the weighing cup, means or, preventing the air blast from entering the receptacle, and means for introducing a blast of air to the weighing cup and :tor conveying the material as a dust cloud therefrom.

10. A dusting apparatus comprising a receptacle for finely divided material, weighing means, a measuring cup movably supported on the receptacle and connected to the weighing means, an air-tight connection and receptacle, v

divided material, weighbetween the weighing cup and receptacle,

manually operable means for moving material from the receptacle to the weighing cup, and means for introducing a blast of air to the weighing cup and Jfor conveying the material as a dust cloud therefrom.

11. A dusting apparatus comprising a receptacle for nely divided material, weighing means, a measuring cup ported on the receptacle and connected to the weighing means, anl air-tight connection between the weighing cup and receptacle, means for moving material yfrom the receptacle'to the weighing cup, manually adjustable means for preventing the air blast from entering the receptacle, and means for introducing a blast of air to the weighing cup to convey the material as a dust cloud therefrom.

In testimony whereof we atiix our signatures.

FLOYD J. METZGER.' GEORGE J. WEGERER. 

